The Hartley Arms in West Berkshire

This place is a slice of perfection that delivered a 5 star experience across the board. Friendly and helpful staff greeted us and sat us down. The ambience and the decor is so warm and inviting but whilst it is a bit posh and a bit fancy, it has a sense of fun about it as well. I felt special without feeling uncomfortable. My wife and I were in for Sunday Lunch and I have to tell you, I was really hungry! When our mains arrived I was impressed with the look and variety of items on the plate and there was plenty of it. The Lamb was beautiful and every element on the plate was perfect individually but when it all came together it was mind blowing food. I had lamb, my wife had beef and they came with all the trimmings you would expect including cauliflower cheese on the side. The buttery veg and the sweet puree really gelled the whole dish together. For dessert we opted for a posset which was classically simple and delicious and super light which was very welcome after helping to finish my wife's main! She had the key lime pie and we had fun trying to guess the ingredients in the base, there were complex flavours in there that we just weren't sure of, that worked really well together. So we will have to go back and try again soon! 10 out of 10, the experience and the food was superb, I can't praise The Hartley Arms highly enough.

I found The Hartley Arms online, looking for a nice place to have lunch before a visit to the Watermill Theatre. Absolutely lovely with friendly staff and beautiful home cooked food. It's definitely worth booking and they have parking across the road (you need to log this into their system). There are also riverside tables for the summer.

The meal was brilliant. We had a rabbit dish and a lamb pie. Super flavours, super meal. The chef must be a wizard. Apparent tripadvisor wants me to use more words, which I find just ridiculous. I have said it all quite succinctly and I was happy with it.

Lovely place to eat. Food was amazing and plenty to eat. The staff were lovely and friendly. Cosy place to eat and enjoy a few drinks too.

Staying with friends in Newbury we visited the pub for an excellent couple of pints at lunchtime followed by dinner in the evening. A small innovative menu did not disappoint. Friendly managers/staff only added to a most enjoyable evening. I will return and would highly recommend a visit to anyone in the area. In these tough times I wish all at The Hartley Arms a successful summer.

Really good food. Expertly made cocktails. We had the burger, which was excellent. The open fire was perfect warmer before the walk back into town.

Having lived in Newbury for over 35 years, we have eaten at almost every pub/restaurant locally. We have just had the most delicious Sunday lunch at The Hartley Arms and will definitely be returning . Thank you

Great for a business lunch - not much more than 5 minutes from A34/M4 junction. Excellently presented pub classics. Recommended.

We booked a lunch with family after a cold frosty walk around Donnington Castle . The food was excellent . A good basic choice of pub grub cooked and presented especially well. Friendly attentive staff who made us and the dogs friendly.

Amazing food, well worth. We had oir post Christmas family lunch and went out in the back room. We had a myriad or different meals from all three courses. Every single one was exceptional.

Another superb lunch at The Hartley Arms. We had a warm welcome and never rushed the service and ambience were perfect. The Sunday lunch main courses included braised beef, gammon, sea bream plus a couple of vegetarian options. We had the beef and gammon and both were excellent. The desserts were also fantastic and not to be missed.

Incredible Sunday lunch and great service. Friendly staff, dog friendly, great food, happy to accommodate dietary requirement.

We happened upon this little pub by chance mid afternoon, and stopped off for a pint & drinks etc. The welcome was warm & genuine, and the general ambiance seemed excellent with a tasteful & slightly quirky decor. Whilst enjoying our drinks we browsed the menu, and it sounded interesting. However evening meals did not start until 6pm (fair enough) and it being mid afternoon we decided to head back to the hotel & instead eat at a place we had earlier identified that was within walking distance of our accommodation. I shall not sully this review with our "experience" at the other establishment, suffice to say we booked a taxi to the Hartley Arms. The food was beautifully presented, and cooked perfectly.. I particularly liked my lamb. The service ( an owner, I suspect, as she appeared to be doing all the front of house) was attentive without being intrusive. Somewhat off the beaten track for me, but well worth a visit for anyone in the area imho.

We regularly have Sunday lunch with our son and his family. We chose the Hartley Arms as it was a bit of last minute booking, but could offer us a table for 6 at 1.30 Most other pubs were offering 3.30 onwards! The car park is a tad small and if customers dont park with care, you end up driving round trying to find a spot to park. I mentioned my son had driven round a few times and the lovely lady, assuming land lady, went out to assist. The menu was small, a choice of 3 starters, two vegetarian/vegan and four mains, including roasts. Plenty of choice for me, the vegetarian and everyone was happy. The soup was a piece of pure theatre, stunning taste as well. Everyone chose roasts except one grandson had fish and chips. We eat out Sundays alternate weeks and Im a good cook and can produce a better roast than most restaurants, but this was out of this world! Tasted just like home cooked, plenty of roast potatoes, stunning home made Yorkshires, fab cauliflower cheese, cabbage and carrots! A pile of meat for the meat eaters and I had the best veggie Wellington, ever! Every plate returned licked clean! Puddings of Brownies, ice cream and the best creme brûlée’s flavoured with Pistachio this side of the channel. Lovely touch was the pistachio brittle on ice cream! My coffee, a flat white with an extra shot the best Ive drunk in the UK. Honestly, Ive lived in Newbury area since 1979….how did I not find this restaurant/pub before! Perfect front of house by I assume Mr and Mrs and some serious talent in the kitchen. Great meals guys, thankyou!

Fabulous! Decided to have lunch here after doing a quick Google search for nearby eateries whilst we were visiting the local area. Plenty of parking in a very picturesque location. Pub is very tastefully furnished and we were very warmly welcomed by the host. Food was very wholesome and extremely delicious and the service was efficient and very friendly. Dog friendly too which is always a plus! Highly recommend and we’ll definitely be back if we’re in the area again.

We went there for a roast dinner for 7 people and all the food was delicious and the staff were lovely. We all ordered starter mains and puddings and there where options for all dietary requirements

Me and my wife popped in for dinner and were pleasantly surprised with the quality of food and presentation ,our waiter was also really helpful so I guess we return very soon

Very nice evening. Went to the comedy night which was very good value. Fish and chips and a pint for £20 and two good comedians on. Food was very good standard with the fish being really nice and well cooked. Service was fast and good. A very enjoyable evening and will return and recomend.

Found this place from looking on Tripadvisor for a stop off for lunch before going to our nearby hotel. Went into the little hidden cafe adjoining the pub. What a hidden gem this is. Had a lovely lunch. Would imagine the pub would be good too. Very friendly staff. Would highly recommend

Having been told of this little gem we visited last week, host Alison and team were welcoming and knowledgeable, the food was superb, we will be back soon with friends.

Service is always great, as is the food. Always a delicious vegan option available, I'm just sad I wasn't quick enough to go back and have the vegan steak again! Looking forward to trying the new menu :)

AMAZING Sunday roast! Lovely welcoming staff too. We had the pork and the beef. Both very generous portions of meat, the best tasting gravy and top quality vegetables. Highly recommend this gorgeous pub.

Fabulous Food. Outstanding fish and chips, memorable hake, glorious gooseberry pie. A regularly updated menu showcasing local and seasonal produce wherever possible. Great value, attentive service, cosy pub atmosphere, spotless facilities, on site parking. We’ll be back.

We were thirteen for lunch with choices from across the menu. We were served promptly with superb food by pleasant ant helpful staff. All of our group were pleased with the quality of their meals and several commented afterwards that they thought that they had had good value for money.

Pretty pub in a lovely location. Staff very welcoming and efficient. Lots of local produce that the chef transforms in to attractive and delicious meals. Desserts also fabulous. Absolutely delicious. Bonus was the nicest pint of beer I've had in a long time - Good Old Boy from the local Renegade Brewery.